KUCHING: The wet weather yesterday morning did not dampen the spirit of patriotism here. Sarawak Association for People’s Aspiration (Sapa) president Dominique Ng said some 5,000 participants attended the 722 Sarawak Independence Day celebration here at Padang Merdeka despite the rain.
The celebration began early morning with the Sarawak for Sarawakians (S4S) rally parade from the Jubilee Ground down to Padang Merdeka.
“There would have been 10,000 attendees if not for the wet weather.
“This is a symbolic day as it was the day Sarawak was born. This later led to the birth of Malaysia,” Ng told reporters after the celebration yesterday morning.
“This celebration is all due to our late Tok Nan (former chief minister Pehin Sri Adenan Satem). In 2016, he allowed us to recognise this day (July 22) as Sarawak’s Independence Day and have it gazetted for all Sarawakians.
“While some hesitate to call today Sarawak’s Independence Day, we should not dishonour the name of Tok Nan by trying to turn this day into a day that is not meant to be,” he said.
Ng added he fully supported the Oil Mining (Amendment) Bill 2018 passed by the Sarawak State Assembly last year to update several provisions in the Oil Mining Ordinance (OMO) and to bring the ordinance in line with current practices and operation in upstream sector of the oil and gas (O&G) industry.
He added that Sarawak was a sovereign country for 100 years which was “downgraded” to the 12th or 13th state of Malaysia.
“What is worse is that many Sarawakians wondered what happened on September 16, 1963 when Sabah and Sarawak only changed their colonial master from Great Britain to the Federation of Malaya.
“But today on this historical day, we must renew our pledge and fight for what is rightfully ours,” he said.
Participants took part in the opening ceremony of the 722 Sarawak Independence Day celebration here at Padang Merdeka by releasing balloons in front of Plaza Merdeka.
The celebration event was organised by Sapa, S4S, Dayak National Congress (DNC) and Solidariti Anak Sarawak (SAS).
Participants came from as far as Serian, Simunjan, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri. Also present were State Reform Party (STAR) president Lina Soo and S4S leader William Mangor.
